Santorini is good for more than sunsets—it’s good for sips. This small-group Santorini wine and beer tour mixes winery visits with a craft brewery stop, timed nicely for the late afternoon. You’ll taste a serious spread of local styles and learn what makes Santorini grapes behave the way they do.

What I like most is the volume and variety: 12 wines plus 3 beers with pairing-style snack support so you’re not just drinking through the afternoon. I also like that the stops aren’t cookie-cutter: you’ll go from a classic estate setting to Art Space in a cave-like art environment, then finish with a more experimental project.

One thing to consider: some tasting spaces can feel a bit tight, and the pace between pours is designed to keep the schedule moving. If you hate sharing space at a crowded table or you want lots of time to wander inside each winery, plan your expectations around a structured tasting format.

Key things to know before you go

• Small group, big focus: capped at eight for a more personal feel (though the tour can run up to 10 total)
• Four stops in one afternoon: three winery visits plus one craft brewery tasting
• A lot of tasting for the time: 12 wines and 3 beers, not just a couple of samples
• Art Space sets the vibe: wine tasting tied to an art-filled experience in a dramatic setting
• Assyrtiko gets center stage: Anhydrous is specifically rooted in Santorini’s distinctive character
• Transport included: pickup means you don’t worry about Santorini roads or parking

Why This Santorini Wine and Beer Tour Works So Well at 3 pm

Starting at 3:00 pm is smart. You’re not competing with a hot midday schedule, and you’re also not burning your morning fighting for reservations. Santorini does “late-day relaxation” really well, and this tour fits that rhythm—winery visits first, brewery next, then you’re freed up afterward.

Another reason it works is simple logistics. With pickup offered and a driver doing the driving, you can treat this like a tasting day, not a navigation day. Santorini is picturesque, but it can be slow and twisty to get around, especially when you’re trying to line up multiple winery appointments yourself.

The Small-Group Advantage: Up to 8 (and still manageable at 10)

This is set up for small-group interaction. The experience is capped at eight for a more personal feel, and it lists a maximum of 10 travelers. That matters because tasting groups can get loud fast—more people means less attention at each station.

In practice, the guide’s job is easier with a smaller group too. You’ll generally have time to ask questions and get context while the tour keeps a steady pace. You’ll still be in a structured format (this is a tasting tour), but it should feel more like guided coordination than a busload day.

Stop 1: Estate Argyros and the Classic Santorini Estate Experience

Your first stop is Estate Argyros, with a full one-hour wine tasting plus a winery tour. This is where you get anchored in Santorini wine culture right away. Estate-style tastings often help you understand what “local” means in a very practical way—how the flavors connect to the island’s grape personalities and growing conditions.

A tour at a recognizable estate also helps you read the rest of the afternoon. When you later hit more experimental or artistic spaces, you’ll have a baseline for comparison. And that makes the tasting lineup feel less random and more like a story.

One practical tip: this is your first major tasting, so pace your sipping early. Take a moment to look at labels and make small notes in your phone if you’re the type who remembers better when you write things down.

Santorini Brewing Company: 3 Beers, Short and Satisfying

Next up is Santorini Brewing Company for about 15 minutes. This part is fast, but it’s not filler. You’ll taste local beers including Red, Yellow, and Crazy donkey.

Why I think this stop is a win: Santorini isn’t just about wine. Adding a brewery stop gives your palate a break and adds variety to the afternoon. Also, beer tastings tend to be lighter in structure than wine tastings, so it can feel like a breath of air after the estate tour.

If you’re worried about beer making you sleepy early—don’t. With the schedule built around tastings and snacks, it’s more about flavor contrast than getting tipsy.

Art Space Santorini: Wine Tasting in an Artistic Setting

Then you move to Art Space for about 40 minutes. Expect both a wine tasting and a winery-style tour. This stop is known for its dramatic vibe: there are caves filled with artwork, which turns your tasting into more of a sensory experience than a checklist stop.

This is also one of the places that tends to stand out in a good way, because it gives you a change of scenery. You’re not just sipping in a tasting room—you’re moving through a space where the setting is part of the experience. If you like photography, you’ll likely enjoy this one more than you thought you would.

The only drawback to keep in mind: cave-like or art-focused venues can mean uneven surfaces and tighter interior areas. You don’t need hiking boots, but you should wear shoes you’re comfortable walking in.

Anhydrous Winery and the Assyrtiko-Forward Story of Apostolos Mountrichas

Your final winery stop is Anhydrous Winery, with a one-hour tasting and tour. Here you’ll learn directly about the person behind the project: Avantis Estate’s winemaker Mr. Apostolos Mountrichas. He fell for Santorini’s strong personality—especially Assyrtiko—and started his Santorini project in 2012. He completed it in 2021 by founding Anhydrous Winery.

What’s especially interesting is the philosophy described for the winery: it relies on experimentations using ancient wine-making techniques, aiming for modern wines with purity and keeping primary varietal characteristics clear. In plain terms, this is a place that wants the grapes to speak, not just hide behind heavy flavor tricks.

And that matters because you’ll likely taste through the afternoon and realize the island’s wines aren’t all trying to taste the same. This stop helps you connect why the flavors differ: different choices in process lead to different results in the glass.

Pairings, Snacks, and the Pace Between Tastings

The tour includes generous tastings and snacks to accompany. One detail that helps your actual comfort: snacks at multiple locations can be enough to keep you feeling good through the afternoon, so you don’t need to hunt for food afterward.

That said, the tour is still timed. Your time at each stop is set, and the schedule keeps you moving from location to location. The best part of that is you get a lot in a short window. The tradeoff is you may not have long windows to linger, compare, or shop around at leisure.

Also, keep in mind a practical pacing reality: tasting rooms sometimes run people through similar setups, and with groups, that can mean sitting close together for tastings. If elbow room is your top priority, you’ll want to mentally prepare for “tasting mode.”

Guides, Conversation, and How to Get the Most Out of Each Stop

A big part of why this tour works is the guide experience. Multiple named guides have been praised in past outings, including Billy, John, Nick, Giannis, Elena, and Nicholas. The common thread is that the guide doesn’t just point; they share context—what you’re tasting and how it fits with Santorini as an island.

You can make that pay off fast. Ask one good question early—something like what the winery is trying to emphasize in that specific lineup. Then use the same theme in later tastings. When your questions stay consistent, the afternoon turns from “drinking stuff” into “learning how the island thinks.”

And yes, you’ll probably get helpful conversation while driving too. That’s a real advantage in Santorini, where short drives can still give you lots of perspective.

Price and Value: Is $184.38 Worth It?

At $184.38 per person, this isn’t a budget wine snack. But it also isn’t just a quick tasting at one stop. You’re getting a four-location afternoon built around serious sampling: 12 wines plus 3 beers, plus snacks, plus guided winery touring.

Here’s how I judge value for a tour like this:

• Number of tastings per hour: you’re getting a lot of pours without needing to schedule separate appointments.
• Transport included: you’re paying for pickup and someone else managing the roads.
• Variety of venues: estate, brewery, art-cave experience, and a project with a stated experimental philosophy.

If your goal is to taste broadly and learn what you like quickly—this can be a smart move. If your goal is slow travel, long wandering in gift shops, or private time with a single winery’s cellar collection, you may prefer a more flexible day.

Who Should Book This Santorini Tour—and Who Might Skip It

This tour fits you if you want:

• a guided Santorini wine intro that includes both wine and beer
• a small-group setup where you can actually talk to your guide
• enough tastings to figure out what to buy (or at least what to remember) later

I’d think twice if you:

• need tons of free time at each stop to browse on your own
• hate close seating during tastings
• are sensitive to structured schedules (this tour keeps you moving)

If you’re celebrating something, it’s also a good fit. The tone tends to be relaxed, and the range of venues gives it a “special afternoon” feel without being formal.

Should You Book This Santorini Wine and Beer Tour?

I’d book it if you’re visiting Santorini for a short time and you want the “wine side” of the island without dealing with transport and scheduling headaches. The combo of three winery experiences plus a brewery, along with the heavy tasting lineup, is exactly the kind of efficient itinerary that helps you decide what you want to explore more on your own later.

Book with eyes open on the main tradeoff: the tastings are structured, and tasting spaces can be tight. If you go in ready for that format, you’ll probably have one of the most fun, flavors-focused afternoons of your trip.

FAQ

What time does the Santorini Wine Tour start?

It starts at 3:00 pm.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 4 to 5 hours.

Does the tour include pickup?

Yes, pickup is offered.

How big is the group?

It’s designed as a small group capped at eight, with a maximum of 10 travelers.

How many wines and beers are included?

You’ll taste 12 wines and 3 beers, with pairings and snacks included.

Which places do we visit?

You’ll visit three wineries and one craft brewery. The named stops include Estate Argyros, Art Space, Anhydrous Winery, and Santorini Brewing Company.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.

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